BRUNEI – The tiny South-east Asian country of Brunei is introducing strict new Islamic laws that make gay sex an offence punishable by stoning to death. The new measures that come into force on Wednesday, also cover a range of other crimes including punishment for theft by amputation.
The move has sparked international condemnation. In a public address on Wednesday, the country’s sultan called for “stronger” Islamic teachings.
“I want to see Islamic teachings in this country grow stronger,” Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said, according to AFP news agency, without mentioning the new laws.
Under the new law, individuals will only be convicted of gay sex if they confess or are seen committing the act by four witnesses.
Homosexuality was already illegal in Brunei and punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Brunei’s gay community has expressed shock and fear at the “medieval punishments”.
“You wake up and realise that your neighbours, your family or even that nice old lady that sells prawn fritters by the side of the road doesn’t think you’re human or is okay with stoning,” one Bruneian gay man, who did not want to be identified, told the BBC.
Brunei, on the island of Borneo, is ruled by Sultan Hassanal and has grown rich on oil and gas exports. The 72-year-old sultan heads the Brunei Investment Agency, which owns some of the world’s top hotels including the Dorchester in London and the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. (BBC)
